Man dies jumping from Eiffel Tower

A MAN has died after climbing more than 125 metres up the Eiffel Tower and then jumping.

The man, wearing a backpack and speaking English, had been spotted climbing the 324m tower at 22.40 last night, the website leparisien.fr said.

Police were called in to try to talk him down and evacuate visitors who were in restaurants and bars in the first, second and third floors.

As police and a team of pompiers climbing specialists approached the man between the second and third floors he threatened to jump.

Then he jumped, hitting the second floor.

There have been more than 370 suicides from the Eiffel Tower since it was built in 1889 - but the management company says numbers have been cut to around four a year since two-metre barriers were erected.

Last month two men were arrested after climbing up the southern pillar. They had both been drinking and were later fined.
Photo: flickr Matter = energy